Sweeper type vacuum cleaner having automatic nozzle adjustment



J. B. KIRBY SWEEPER TYPE VACUUM CLEANER HAVING AUTOMATIC NOZZLEADJUSTMENT April 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 26, 1948 NVENTORJunes B. Kirby Aprll 15, 1952 1.13. KIRBY 2,592,710

SWEEPER TYPE VACUUM CLEANER HAVING AUTOMATIC NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FiledJan. 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MEAT/.Annulla 3 ,Z

may n. 686769 Z 7x2- AM 80 5 INVENTOR Jamas B Kirby ATTORNEY April 15,1952 Q KIRBY 2,592,710

SWEEPER TYPE VACUUM CLEANER HAVING AUTOMATIC NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FiledJan. 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wj s INVENTOR 45% Jam@ Kirby ATTORN EYSApril 15, 1952 J. B. KIRBY 2,592,710

SWEEIPER TYPE VACUUM CLEANER HAVING AUTOMATIC NOZZLE ADJUSTMENT FiledJan. .26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 75 Q 7l I 7g CID l rx (wg BY m fm2??ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. l5, 1952 UNITED l'STATES PATENT lOFFICE SWEEPERTYPE 'VACUUM CLEANER HAVING AUTOMATICNOZZLE ADJUSTMENT James B. Kirby,West Richfield, Ohio ApplicationJanuary 26, 1948, Serial No. 4,386

4 -"7 Claims. A1

The present invention relates to sweeper type suction cleaners havingautomatic -nozzle adjustment and particularly to a cleaner of thecharacter referred to that is convertible from a sweeper type cleaner toa tank type suction -hose cleaner.

rEhe invention has for an object a simple and positive Imeans `forautomatically 'adjusting the nozzle "to its cleaning v.position 'and formaintaining the nozzle in its cleaning position during operation of thecleaner.

, The invention has for a `further object to provide an actuator for the-iioor nozzle that is so connected with the suction creating means thatthe nozzle is automatically :moved to its cleaning position when theVsuction creating means is started. into operation andthe yexertion ofVdown ward pressure upon the nozzle -during Aoperation of thecleaner is`dependenttupon the pressure existing within the suction nozzle.

Aiurtherobject of the invention is to provide a cleaner in which dustseparating means is interposed Kbetween the suction nozzle and -fancasingand in which a pneumatic nozzle adjustingmotor is provided that is.operated by the suction existing between the dust separator and the faninlet.

`A 'further object `is to `provide `a pneumatic nozzle adjusting motorthat is controlled 4by means of a valve that .-is movable in response tovariations 'in pressure Vwithin .the nozzle.

With .the above and other objects in View, the invention `may be said tocomprise the suction cleaner :as 'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, hereinafter .described and particularly set lforth in the.appended claims, together with such variations and `nrodicationsthereof as will 'be apparent to 'one 'skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains.

Reference Ashould 'be `had to the `accompanying drawings 'forming a part"of .this specification, 'in which:

Figure l `is aside elevation of a `cleaner embodying the invention withparts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken on the line indicated at 2-2 inFig. l with the nozzle in elevated position;

Fig. 3 "is `a section taken on the line indicated at '3--3 in Fig. '2;

Fig. 4 is a lfragmentary side elevation of a forward portion of thecleaner looking toward the sideop-posite that shown in Fig. l, with thenozzle in `cleaning position;

'Fig'. 5 is atop plan view of the forward pon tion of the cleaner with aportion 'broken `away and .shown in horizontal section;

Fig. `(i 'is :a side elevation showing the floor nozzle detached fromth'e housing;

Eig. .is .a side elevation :showing a cap and `suction hose` detachablyvsecured tov the housing,

indicated at II-II in Fig. Fig. 4i2 `is a plan view of the cleaner.supporting carriage.;

Fig. 1-3 is a section taken on the line indicated at {3L-I3 in Fig. l2;and

Fig. 14 is `a fragmentary vertical section through the rear axle of thecarriage .showing the attachmentof the housing tothe axle.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, the cleaner of the presentinvention has an elongated tubular housing I in which ismountedamultiple stage fan 2 that is driven by an electric motor 3 thatis mounted within the housing I to the rear of the fan 2. The farli-2has a casing 4 that is provided with an exterior` sealing ring' engagingthe interior of the housing .I, so that the fan casing forms a partition.intermediate fthe ends of the housing, the fan casing "4 beingmountedin the -rear Yportion of the casing so 'as `to provide anelongatedsuction vcompartment between the fan casing and the forwardvend of Athe housing and a motor compartment between the ian and the rearend of the housing. rlhe fan casinghas a central inlet '-6 'anddischarges rearwardly through the motor compartment. A lter bag l has anopen end at the 'forward end of the housing with its edge portion folded4over the forward end of the tubular wall of :the housing so that airvdrawn `into the fan `must 'pass through the filter bag.

The housing I is supported on 4a carriage having front and `rear wheels`8 and 9 that are connected by a sheet metal body I0 that istransversely curved to correspond to the curvature of the housing yI andthat has upwardly extending side portions II to which a conventionalvlrandle `I2 is attached. The rear wheels 9 are rotatably mounted uponan axle I3 rigid with the housing and free to vtur-n in flanges I4formed integrally with the body I0 of the carriage.

The rear end of the housing I is detachably secured to the axle I3 bysuitable means-such as screws I5, as shown vin Fig. `l5. Since the axle"I3 is free to turn `in the flanges I4 of the carriage body, it providesa pivotal connection between the rear end of the housing I Vand thesupporting carriage.

Adjacent its forward end the housing I hasa bracket It .attached to Joneside thereof and this bracket has a `vertical tube 'I'I Vattachedthereto that extends through a hole t8 formed in the carriage body I0. Acoil vspring I9` surrounds the tube Il and is interposed 'between the:can

riage body I6 and the bracket I6. The spring I9 serves to `normally holdthe housing in an elevated position with respect to the carriage and theupward movement of the housing is limited by a finage on the lower endof the tube |1 that engages the under side of the carriage body I0.

A floor nozzle 2l is detachably secured to the forward end of thehousing the nozzle 2| having an integral closure portion 22 thatprovides a detachable head for the housing I, the closure portion 22having a peripheral flange 23 that nts over the edge portion of thefilter bag 1 on the exterior of the housing l at its forward end. Theclosure member 22 carries a sealing ring 24 that is mounted in anannular recess 25 in the closure member and that bears against the endof the tubular housing to provide a fluid tight seal and clamp the lterbag. Any suitable detachable fastening means may be employed forsecuringV the nozzle 2| to the housing. As herein illustrated the flange23 of the closure portion of the nozzle carries diametrically oppositebosses 26 each provided with an aperture 21 to receive a screw 28 thatengages a threaded aperture in a lug 29 attached to the exterior of thehousing I. By tightening the screws 28 the sealing ring 24 is clampedagainst the end of the tubular housing will to clamp the filter bag andprovide a seal.

The closure portion 22 of the nozzle 2| is provided with an opening thatcommunicates with the nozzle 2| so that a suction conduit is providedfrom the nozzle inlet through the nozzle and housing to the fan 2, thelter bag 1 providing a dust separator in the conduit between the nozzleand fan.

Within the nozzle 2| there is mounted a rotatable brush 36 that isdriven by means of a small low voltage electric motor 31 that is mountedin a housing formed by means of a cap 38 detachably secured to the upperportion of the nozzle. The motor 31 drives the brush 36 through -acountershaft 35 journaled in and extending through the nozzle wall, thecountershaft 39 being driven by the motor at a speed less than that ofthe motor through a round belt 40, and the brush 36 being driven fromthe countershaft 39 by means of a suitable belt 4|. Current is suppliedto the motor 31 through a suitable socket 42 .attached to the housingand a plug 43 attached to the flange 23 of the detachable nozzle. Thesocket 42 and plug 4.3 provide connection between wires 44 and 45 in thehousing I and wires 46 and 41 in the nozzle 2| that lead to the motor31.

Current for operating the main motor 3 is controlled by means of asuitable switch 48 at the rear end of the housing through which currentis delivered to the windings 49 of the motor 3. As shown in Fig. 10,current for operating the low voltage motor 31 is taken from one of thewindings 49 of the main motor which serves as a transformer.

The housing with its attached floor nozzle 2| is normally held by thespring I8 above its normal working position, preferably at a substantialdistance above the door surface so that the nozzle does not interferewith free travel of the cleaner over a floor surface when it is notbeing operated.

Means is provided for automatically moving the housing |4 and nozzle 2|downwardly to the proper cleaning position when the suction fan 2 isstarted into operation. The nozzle actuating means is an auxiliary motorthat is energized substantially simultaneously with the energization ofthe fan driving motor 3 and that is so connected to the carriage andnozzle that when energized it applies a downwardthrust to the nozzle tomove it to cleaning position. The auxiliary nozzle adjusting mo-tor ispreferably a pneumatic motor so connected with the fan 2 that thedifferential air pressure required for its operation is created by thefan. As herein illustrated, the nozzle actuating motor is a suctionmotor comprising a cylinder 56 attached to the rear wall of the nozzle2| and a movable piston 5|. The piston 5| is connected by a cable 52 toa drum 53 adjacent the inner end 0f the cylinder 50, the cable 52 beingattached to the piston 5| and Wound o-n the drum 53,Y which is rotatablymounted on a shaft 54 attached to the rear wall of the nozzle 2|. Thedrum 53 has a projecting hub 55 that forms a second drum of smallerdiameter upon which is wound acable 56 that is attached to the hub 55and to an arm -51 of a lever 58 mounted to turn on a horizontal pivot 59attached to the rear wall of the nozzle.

The cylinder 56 is preferably disposedfhorizontally and the cables 52and 56 are soV wound on the drums 53 and 55 that the cable v56 and arm51 are moved upwardly when the piston 5| is moved outwardly away fromthe drum 53. The lever 58 is actuated in a direction to move the arm 51downwardly and apply tension to the cable 56 by means of a spring 6Uthat is attached at one end to the nozzle 2| and at its opposite end toa short upwardly extending arm 6| of the lever 58, the'downward movementof the arm 51 being limited by a stop pin 62 in the path of the arm 6|.The arm 51 of the lever has a lateral extension 63 that is engageablewith the under side of a projecting portion 64 of the carriage body I0when the arm 51 is moved upwardly in opposition to the spring 60, sothat the pull on the cable 56 exerts a downward thrust on the nozzle 2|to move it downwardly in opposition to the spring |9. The spring 6Userves to normally retain the piston 5| near the inner open end of thecylinder 56 that is adjacent the drum 53 in which position of the pistonthe nozzle is held by the spring I9 in its elevated position. When thenozzle 2| is removed from the housing l, the spring 66 serves to holdthe piston 5| in the position which it occupies when the nozzle is inits elevated position, so that when the nozzle is reattached to thehousing the actuating piston 5| and lever arm 51 will be in properposition for applying downward thrust to the nozzle.

At itsI outer end the cylinder 50 has a head 65 that is provided with anintegral extension 66 that is formed to provide a valve annulus 61 thathas spaced internal grooves 68 and 69. I'he head 65 is provided with apassage 10 opening to the interior of the cylinder and to the grooves68. The extension 65 has a tubular elbow portion 1| providing a passagethat communicates with the groove 69. The upper end of the elbow portion1| extends horizontally and is received in a fitting 12 attached to thehousing through which communication is established with the suction fan.To seal the connection between the fitting 12 and the elbow 1|, asuitable sealing ring-13 is provided within the ntting for engagementwith the end of the elbow 1|. f

The rear wall of the nozzle 2| has a cylinder 14 formed integrallytherewith that opens to the interior of the nozzle and that is axiallyalined with the valve annulus 61. At the outer end of the cylinder 14 aclosure member 15 is attached ftolithenozzlefbyisuitable:means :suchasscrews 16. -The closure :member H5 ihasa tubular unembier 1:1integralltherewith that :nts within :the `valve anmulus andfthatisprovided Lwith openings 18 'cireumterentiallyispaced :around 'the thetubular memberzand .registering with the .groove 68, :and similarlyarranged openings :T9 'that :register A:with the groove 69. Within thetubular member "|i1 'a valveispool 180 is slidably f mounted, the :spoolBD being provided A'with :spaced plungers 18| and 82 thatrarelspa'cedwapartsa `distance :sufticient 5to refceive thecpenings 'ltzand19 :between rthem.`

Withinthefcylinder 14 there isimounted` annovrafble :diaphragm.oripiston '.83 "that is connected `by means-foies. `rod` 84.w-ith` thevalve spool 180, fthe :piston l=|3beingmormally held iagainstlthe:closure imember -1.5 by means `of va coil spring` 85 vof the fdesiredpressure exerting cliaracteristicsi surround 4the irod P84 fand:interposed `between the lclosurenn'ember"115 and the Jvalveli).TheJspring 85 ,-'servestoinormally 'hold the vpiston 83::and` valve.spoolliin uthe position `shown .in;Fig. 511, in which 'position .thencylinder :58 is Ain communication wvith the vinteriorl of .the .housing.1| through .thepassa'ge lli-,grooves Vtik-openings 11.8 .and a'lS,sgrooves `|39, Aelbow 1|" :andthe slitting 12.

`Withinthe housing I :a tube 85 extends .from itheltting 7.'2to1a pointbetween the rear endfof lthedilterfbag Fl rand lthe inlet `of the fancasing, where a high vacuum exists during operation of xtheicleaner dueto the air flow Liinpedingzaction oi the ilteribagythe tube '8.6 andVpassages through thel-.iitting `12,:and extension E6 of :the fcylinder-lreadvproviding ia. separate L conduit connecting the -fanrand nozzle:actuating motor :through which `then-airflow is independent. of the airziiow through the. conduit connecting the :suction nozzle with theLian.:

"ilheifolosurefinember 115 is provided r,with fopen- #ingsfrli whichestablish :atmospheric Lprcssure :on the outcrface of `:the piston :83.so that :the `piston *813* ill ".be` drawn inwardly "by suctionlor-cated iwithin-ithe nozzle 12 during operation :of :thetcleaner'whenever' thatzsuction is suflicient to l'olvierloalance :Ithe`spring 285; 'When the cleaner is started into Loper-ation the air 'islsimultaneous'ly drawn throughl A'the nozzle -2 into thelhousinglandthrough `'the lter bag into the tan casing, A'and from the cylinder58 -throug'h the valve 88 fand tube It6-to the fan inlet. 'The suctioniin 4the cylinder i5|) causes jthe piston 5| to be -drawn `to wardtheheadfBE, operating the drum 53 to swing the 'armi'lrupwardly intoengagement with `the under side of the body lill` and exert afdownwardthrust -on the nozzle 2| which moves the nozzle in opposition to itsspring I9 downwardly to cleaning position. When the flow "of air intothe nozzle 2| is impeded by the close proximity of the `nozzle inlet tothe floor surface, 'suction is created within the nozzle 2| whichoverba'lances the spring 85 and `draws the piston 83 inwardly, movingthe plunger 82 toward the position in which it -cuts oli communicationbetween :the suction .chamber and the cylinder 5|).

'In order to normally prevent .movement of `the valve -spool 80 to aposition where communication :between theitube 86 and cylinder 50 iscompletely 'closed and .to prevent continued exertion of a- `downward`pressure against the r-iioor covering Jin' the-eventthat the piston 83`is moved too far by suction within the nozzle, a bleed hole 88 is pro-vacting upon the piston 5| and permit the spring 6 t! Sto slightly.lifttheznozzle and` carpet for` more effective `cleaning, action,` Ifthe-suction grip `ol? the nozzle 2| on theY carpet should be tbrokensufficiently to permit the 4spring :Iu` :to :move :the -nozzle ,awayfrom the carpet, the valve i180 will be Ainstantly opened so that airwould beagain drawn from 'the cylinder'B to actuate the'piston 5| :andagain move the nozzle downwardly to its Ycleaning position.

'In normal operation the forces exerted 'on `the nozzle by the cylinderEll and spring |19 are 'balanced and the nozzle is instantaneouslyresponsive'to variations in the pressure within the cylinder 58 `so thatthe nozzle is maintained in eiective cleaning position while passingover worn or uneven portions of a carpet.

In order to provide the highvacuum desirable when the cleaner is used asa tank cleaner, fthe `ian 2 is preferably of a capacity such that it mayunder lsome conditions create a higher lsuction in the nozzle 21| thanis desirable and, yto avoid this diinculty small air inlet openings -89may be provided in the nozzle 2| above its opening lower end so that anincreasing vquantity vof :air isdrawn through the openings 89 instead ofthrough the nozzle opening in which the brush :movable from the ntting'l2 fuponhorizontalfforward movement of the nozzle. The nozzle 22 is`replaceable `by a closure .lmeinber 98, 'which kas shown in Fig.8,carries a suction hose A`8| andfhas a flange 23a corresponding to theflange `2'3 Aof `the nozzle 2| thatcarries-screws 28a corresponding tothe screws 28 so that it can be locked to the housing inthe saine manneryas the nozzlel Theclosure member Si] is preferably provided with a,plug 82 to close the tting 'l2 to prevent leakage vof air into thehousing through the'tting 'lfduring oper-ation of .the cleaner with the4suction hose.

It is to be understood vthat variations and modinca-tions ci thespecific-devices herein shown and described for purposes lofillustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I-claim is: Y

l. A suction cleaner comprising a carriage, `a suctioncreating fan onsaid carriage, a floor nozzle mounted for vertical movementonfsaid.car-- riage from its cleaning position to an elevated position, aspring normally holding thenozzlein `its elevated position, a pneumaticmotor having an air chamber provided `with .a movable piston connectedto said nozzle to impart a downward movement thereto, separate conduitsconnecting said -nozzle land lsaid air-chamber vto `said ian, a

valve insaid conduit connecting the `fan to said `pressure and .on -theother to pressure within the .nozzle :and responsive to changes in ,airpressure withinfsaid nozzle, and meansconnecting.saiddiaphrfaginltofsaid valve to rnovezthe same -to fdecreas'e :or:increase the downward `thrust Aon said'snozzle ythe suction within:said nozzle is vincreased decreased.

21A .suction =cleaner having ia carriage, ra fsuo- 7 tion creating meansincluding a fan on said carriage, a suction nolzzle mounted on saidcarriage for vertical movement from its cleaning position to an elevatedposition, means for yieldably holding said nozzle in its elevatedposition, a pneumatic motor for moving said nozzle downwardly to itscleaning position, separate conduits connecting said nozzle and saidmotor to said fan to draw air through said nozzle and to operate saidmotor upon operation of said fan, a valve for opening and closing theconduit to said motor, means for yieldably holding said valve in itsopen position, a member carried by the nozzle and movable in response toa predetermined reduction in pressure within the nozzle, and meansconnecting said member to said valveto close the valve upon saidpredetermined reduction of pressure in the y nozzle.

3. A suction cleaner comprising a carriage, a housing movably mounted onthe carriage, a sweeper nozzle detachably secured to an end of thehousing, said housing and nozzle being movable from an elevated positionto a cleaning position, means for yieldably holding the housing andnozzle in elevated position, suction creating means including a fanwithin said housing, a suction motor carried by said nozzle andoperatively connected to the carriage for applying a downward thrust tothe housing and nozzle to move the same downwardly, a conduit carried bythe housing and communicating with the fan inlet, a conduit on thenozzle connected to said motor and detachably connected to said housingconduit, a valve in said nozzle conduit for controlling the ilow of airtherethrough to increase or decrease the downward thrust on said housingand nozzle, and means including a member carried by the nozzle andmovable in response to variations in pressure within the nozzle foractuating said valve, to increase or decrease the downward thrustexerted on said housing and nozzle as the pressure within said nozzleincreases or decreases.

4. A suction cleaner having a supporting carriage, a nozzle supportedfor vertical movement on said carriage, means yieldably supporting saidnozzle above its cleaning position, a fan, a suction conduit connectingsaid nozzle to said fan, a dust separator in the conduit between thenozzle and fan, a suction motor, a duct connecting said motor to theportion of said suction conduit between said separator and fan to applysuction to said motor upon operation of said fan, means connecting saidmotor to said nozzle for exerting a downward thrust on the nozzle tolower the same to its working position, a movable controller for varyingthe thrust applied by said suction motor to said nozzle, a membercarried by said nozzle and movable in response to the decrease in theair pressure within said nozzle caused by the restriction of air iiowthrough the nozzle when the nozzle is in working position, and meansconnecting said member to said controller for decreasing the thrust ofsaid motor upon movement of said member.

5. A suction cleaner having a supporting carriage, a nozzle supportedfor vertical movement on said carriage, means yieldably supporting saidnozzle above its cleaning position, a fan. a suction conduit connectingsaid nozzle to said fan, a dust'separator in the conduit between thenozzle and'fan, asuction motor, a duct connecting said motor to theportion of said suction conduit between said separator and fan to applysuction to said motor upon operation of said fan, means connecting saidmotor to said nozzle for exerting ay downward thrust on the nozzle tolower the same to its working position, a valve controlling the suctionapplied to said motor, a member carried by said nozzle and movable inresponse toa predetermined decreasefof pressure within said nozzle, andmeans connecting said member to said valve to decrease the suctionapplied to said motor upon said predetermined decrease of pressure insaid nozzle.

6. A suction cleaner having a supporting carriage, a nozzle supportedfor vertical movement on said carriage, means yieldably supporting saidnozzle above its cleaning position, a fan, a suction conduit connectingsaid nozzle to said fan. a dust separator in the conduit between thenozzle and fan, a suction motor, a duct connecting said motor to theportion of said suction conduit between said separator and fan to applysuction to said motor upon operation of said fan, means connecting saidmotor to said nozzle forexerting a, downward thrust on the nozzle tolower the same to its working position, a valve controlling air flowthrough said duct, a port admitting air to said duct between said motorand said valve, a member carried by said nozzle and movable in responseto a predetermined decrease in pressure within the nozzle, and meansconnecting said member to said rvalve to move the same in a direction todecrease air flow through said Vduct upon said predetermined decrease inpressure within the nozzle.

7. A suction cleaner having a supporting carriage, a fan, a motordriving said fan, a nozzle through which air is drawn by the fan mountedon said carriage for movement froman upper position where air ow throughthe nozzle is substantially unobstructed to a lower'cleaning positionwhere the air now is obstructed and a suction is maintained within thenozzle, means yieldably supporting said nozzle in said upper position,an auxiliary motor connected to said nozzle to exert a downward thrustthereon, means for energizing said auxiliary motor substantiallysimultaneously with the fan driving motor tov move said nozzle tocleaning position, a diaphragm subjected on one side to atmosphericpressure and on the other to the pressure of the air Within said nozzleand movable only in response to a predetermined suction within saidnozzle, a movable controlling element for varying the downward thrustexerted by said motor on said nozzle, and means connecting saiddiaphragm to said controlling element to move the same to decrease orincrease said downward thrust as the suctionin said nozzle is increasedor decreased.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

